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Hennessey out as closer.

Zitokg1_tiny by sfgreg on

Bochy has apparently seen enough of Hennessey in the ninth and is going to give Tyler Walker and Brian Wilson a chance to close some games.  Big news, I know...

Bochy said before the Giants' game against the San Diego Padres that Walker and Wilson will share the closer's duties, replacing Brad Hennessey, the role's primary caretaker since the May 31 Armando Benitez trade.

It will be interesting to see how Bochy divvies up the 3 or so save opportunities this team will see the rest of the year.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070915&content_id=2211369&vkey=news_sf&fext=.j sp&c_id=sf

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Re: Hennessey out as closer.
Three or so save opportunites?

This post belongs to the Calling All Optimists thread...

by Moggeee on Sep 15, 2007 11:01 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
I'm calling it now! 3 save opps - Kline, 1 save opp - Walker, Bochy punches Wilson in the face and makes a Beach Boys joke. Like a good manager, though, he does it with his non-throwing hand as an example for all the other youngsters in his bullpen.
Dave Righetti: You don't know him. / Read My Blog, Because I Write It

by howtheyscored on Sep 15, 2007 11:35 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
I'd like to be the first to say....

Does it really matter at this point?!?  Our skipper has decided that he's just now making this move...with 2 weeks left in the season?!?

Brilliant move there Big Head!  Maybe if you didn't insist on trotting out the same old-as-shit lineup every game, we'd have more chances at getting those precious save opportunities that you seem to assign such a high value to.  

Piss off

Even Omar thinks that Mido is an f'ing tosspot wanker.

by PacBellBoozer on Sep 16, 2007 12:54 AM PDT   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
I think it matters greatly. Removing Hennessey this late is tantamount to saying that the closer situation will be up in the air in the off season.

It may not seem like much now, but wait until the Giants give way too much money to another Benitez-level "proven closer".

Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on me.

by Bhaakon on Sep 16, 2007 2:12 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
Ah, the board is ripe with hope. You can smell it. Or is that something else?
***

Succumb to the Enchanted t-shirt! Adopted dad of Minor Izzy

by hairball on Sep 16, 2007 9:31 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
I think that's shite you're smelling.
Even Omar thinks that Mido is an f'ing tosspot wanker.

by PacBellBoozer on Sep 16, 2007 11:12 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Cripe, Harry
The board is ripe with tripe.

by Moggeee on Sep 16, 2007 8:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
Who the fuck gives a shit. Brad was only a placeholder to begin with. Duh. That Boulderskull would even consider Thighler as a closer says more about the continued stupidity of the decision makers running this franchise, then it actually does about useless "save" opportunities.

This franchise is officially a disgrace that ranks right alongside Baltimore, Washington, Tampa Bay, Florida, and the Raiders for total fucking ineptness perpetuated by feckless ownership dedicated to the perpetuation of the leadership and management skills of Judge Smales, the late president of Bushwood Country Club.

Barry Zito -- Catch Me if You Can.

by E Ticket on Sep 16, 2007 9:43 AM PDT   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
But E, do you have anything bad to say regarding this topic?
Brian Anderson: converting saves and dominating as best he can.

by Anticon23 on Sep 16, 2007 10:02 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
Agree, I hope they don't try and use Walker as the closer over Wilson.

by xanthan on Sep 16, 2007 12:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
Will be interesting to see how the bullpen pans out with Wilson and Walker. Where does this now leave Hennessey for the 2008 season? Will he he a starter, long-man, 7th or 8th inning guy or will they package Henny in a deal?

by wilriv21 on Sep 16, 2007 11:17 AM PDT   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
The problem with putting him in a deal is that by ousting him as the closer, you have killed his trade value. I'm not saying they were wrong, as he deserved to lose his closer spot, but if their plan was to trade Henny after this season putting "failed closer" on his resume will not help them get something good in return.
Randy Messenger: "I'm back, you big headed fool. Stop bringing in Atchison and Munter"

by rxmeister on Sep 16, 2007 5:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
teams aren't stupid. we weren't gonna get shit for hennessey anyway. he already has no trade value, even if he stayed the "closer" for the giants.

by Bruins17 on Sep 16, 2007 5:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
If he finished the year with about 25 saves, he would have no trade value?? If teams are as smart as you think they are, why do they make Matt Morris trades and Armando Benitez trades?? Not only that, but Brad Hennessey IS a decent pitcher, and if you look around the league, there are many teams who don't have even that. The Giants are lucky in the sense that they are loaded with young arms, but there are teams in this league that could really use a Brad Hennessey, a guy who can be effective as a starter, middle reliever, setup man or closer.
Randy Messenger: "I'm back, you big headed fool. Stop bringing in Atchison and Munter"

by rxmeister on Sep 17, 2007 8:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
Agreed, i think sometimes it's easy to overlook, how fortunate we are with regards to pitching, and how many other teams would love to have extra young pitching.

I mean, Hennessey is an afterthought when thinking about our starting rotation, but he'd be a very serviceable on a lot of other teams.

For example, 10 teams in MLB have starting rotations, with higher ERA than Hennessey's ERA as a starter. Or if you compare his ERA to the ERA of starting pitchers this year, he comes out as one of the best 4th starters.

by GiantFan on Sep 17, 2007 11:10 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
I have to think that Hennessey's recent performances have done far more to kill his trade value than Bochy demoting him from the closer role has.

by tobias on Sep 17, 2007 3:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
My only major problem with this move is that's it's too late.

There simply aren't enough games left to seriously evaluate Wilson (I think Walker's level is pretty well established), so no matter what happens there's going to be some serious pressure to sign a proven closer. The only way to avoid that pressure, IMO, would be if Hennessey righted the ship and finished with three or four strong saves. That doesn't mean that I think Hennessey is a good closer, or would have righted the ship, just that that's about the only way the closer situation would have been remotely solidified going into the offseason, and now that outcome is all but impossible.

Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on me.

by Bhaakon on Sep 16, 2007 7:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
The good news is that Sabean all but ruled out the proven closer path on KNBR. He said that out of Wilson/Walker/Hennessey, one of them would be fine, and the team could focus their resources elsewhere.

Now, saying and doing are two different things, but still...

by Grant on Sep 16, 2007 7:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
This is good . . . It seems like we have enough young guys in the pipeline that we won't be making any expesnive free agent mistakes in the bullpen for qute some time.
there is no pain greater than being behind the Rockies in the standings

by oldjacket on Sep 16, 2007 8:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
They've had good young pitchers in the pipeline for awhile, and it hasn't stopped them yet.
Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on me.

by Bhaakon on Sep 16, 2007 8:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
I kinda think Sabean's heart is in the right place when it comes to Proven Closers. The only ones he's gone after are Nen and Benitez; the first was actually a shrewd instance of buying low, while the second was a desperation move that we all had some sympathy for at the time. Mostly, he's been content to let journeymen like Worrell and Hermanson do the job. It would have been nice if he'd recognized that in Joe Nathan he already had the greatest closer of the decade, but hey, who did?

by Evan on Sep 16, 2007 9:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
Make Wilson the full time closer.  He's more intimidating than any of the other guys, plus he can throw the heat.  Walker is overweight and sweaty.  Not a closer.  Messenger would be a good closer if he could add about 5 m.p.h. to his fastball.  He definitally has the character of a closer.  Sorry henny, love ya but you gotta go.  Good releiver, not a closer.
"That one is high, deep, outta here"......

by bigmike594 on Sep 16, 2007 10:35 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
"the character of a closer"...I'm sorry, but this is the same jackass that punched a cooler with his non-pitching hand and is just now coming back from the DL...I don't know about you, but it sounds like he lacks the emotional maturity that is so vital for that kind of spot.  Fiery is ok...but John Rocker was fiery too, and his career went in the shitter real quick like didn't it?
Even Omar thinks that Mido is an f'ing tosspot wanker.

by PacBellBoozer on Sep 17, 2007 12:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
There's a pretty thick fack'n line between taking your frustrations out on an inanimate object and being a racist a-hole.
Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on me.

by Bhaakon on Sep 17, 2007 12:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
No doubt.  I was trying to get at the fact that having a "closers mentality" doesn't mean jack shit if you can't back it up with actual talent.  It wasn't his racist beliefs that lead to his downfall...it was his lack of "stuff".  

Being "wirey" is nice, but if you're the type that comes so easily unraveled, then closer probably isn't the position for you.

Even Omar thinks that Mido is an f'ing tosspot wanker.

by PacBellBoozer on Sep 17, 2007 9:52 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
Of course, there's always the Cain as closer idea that was reportedly floating around the front office.
Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on me.

by Bhaakon on Sep 16, 2007 10:55 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
Clearly the person who thought that one up is the same one who thinks that Papelbon would make for a good closer.  While it might sound like a good idea in the short term...Matty has the kind of stuff required to get through the lineup 2-3 or 4 times.  
Even Omar thinks that Mido is an f'ing tosspot wanker.

by PacBellBoozer on Sep 17, 2007 12:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
As asinine as the idea was, Papelbon is still closing.

Just sayin'

Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on me.

by Bhaakon on Sep 17, 2007 1:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
He's still closing because they don't have anyone else.  Remember when there was talk early in the season about moving him back to a starters role?  That discussion didn't last long, did it?
Even Omar thinks that Mido is an f'ing tosspot wanker.

by PacBellBoozer on Sep 17, 2007 9:50 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
I'd say that Okajima is a more than reasonable someone else.
Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on me.

by Bhaakon on Sep 17, 2007 9:09 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
I like Wilson as a setup/8th man.  It always seems like those guys are more valuable because you can bring them in, at anytime.  Whereas closers are stuck in the 9th inning, no matter what batters are coming up.  

The closer mentality aside, I swear the game hinges on the 8th inning more often than the 9th.  No evidence to back it up though.  

by ImFeklhr on Sep 17, 2007 2:29 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Hennessey out as closer.
Simply said; if you are not put into the game to get the "hold" or "save" opportunity it means nothing....you are just warming a bench.  It happened alot this year to many of our better prospect pitchers.... relievers and closers.  When a relief guy or closer comes into the year with over 20 saves, 79K's in 55 Innings, an unbelieveable Arizona Fall League performance allowing only one earned run...and then sits the whole year during key situations with 6 - 7 days between outings....try and figure that one out.  I am sure he won't be back at the AFL this year...count on it.  

by mavericks on Sep 17, 2007 7:58 PM PDT   0 recs

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